Should Washington Slash Aid For Roads, Cancer Research, College Loans To Cut Deficits?

March 30, 1986

The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law requires a balanced budget by 1991. It includes across-the-board cuts in scores of government programs if the president and Congress do not agree on a budget.

President Reagan's proposed budget includes nominal new taxes but meets the Gramm-Rudman target by slashing or eliminating dozens of government programs. Opponents say a better way is to raise taxes and thus avoid the drastic program cuts.

What do you think? Are you willing to sacrifice government services to help cut the deficit? You have until noon Monday to call.

(Last week we asked if cigarette taxes should be raised to discourage smoking. Of 3,611 calls, 2,038 -- 56 percent -- said yes; 1,573 said no.)